Just like the movies, there are stories revolving around how a business idea turned someone from rags to riches, and this business idea was formed by a conversation in a taproom and immortalized on a table napkin.
A lot of things can happen in a taproom. Friendships, romantic relationships, and even breakthroughs in life can be celebrated there. One “Skol” goes a long way.
In a place where so many stories happen, have you ever wondered how these places are transformed into safe spaces where everyone can be vulnerable with their passions, ideas, and emotions?
There is a secret there, and there should be some magical happenstance in how these taprooms can build many relationships and birth many ideas every night and day.
What started in a garage and evolved into one of Minnesota’s highly acclaimed taprooms is an iconic story we can never forget. It is a business transformation story, leveraging passion to build something from scratch.
This story could inspire aspiring business owners who want to tap into their passions and create something profitable.
Back Channel’s story of emergence is similar to teenagers building a band from their home garage, getting discovered by a small and niche audience, and making it bigger and better as the years pass.
Coincidentally, Back Channel Brewing’s primary business aspect is paying homage to many Minnesotan icons. One of them is Bob Dylan, who has been a globally acclaimed superstar since the 1960s. Back Channel Brewing Co. created a beer named after his hometown in Minnesota called the “Iron Ranger.”
A Unique Space on Lake Minnetonka
That’s just one of their many beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, named after iconic Minnesotans. In addition to being locally founded and operating solely on Lake Minnetonka, the ninth-largest lake in Minnesota, Back Channel Brewing offers more than just beer.
“We have a marina attached to us where we have dock attendants that help tie up people’s boats so they can come in,” Josh explained.
With a lakeside view, a spacious patio, and even a sauna for the adventurous, Back Channel provides an immersive experience for locals and visitors alike. Adventure is part of the many experiences you can have at Back Channel. Throughout the years, the owners have crafted their beers to fit the tastes of different target demographics.
But besides the beers, they’ve built several experiences to form a recognizable brand.
They’ve tapped into orchestrating a perfect cadence of their beers, food from local businesses, music played in the taproom, and the events that keep their audience engaged and entertained. These different aspects that form Back Channel into who they are now are deeply rooted in the various experiences and lessons they’ve had when they were starting.
Let’s take it back to 2015 when Back Channel was just in the garage, ready to take on the world.
From Garage to Taproom: The Creation of Back Channel Brewing
Building one of Minnesota’s sought-after taprooms took a trip down the West Coast and a garage.
Melissa Leddy, one of the founders, shared how their trip to the West Coast made them realize that they wanted to start a brewery. It all started when Josh, a co-founder, and Melissa’s husband thought about turning their own personal garage into a brewery, which they called a “Brewage.”
Now, that passion project has blossomed into a community entity that is Back Channel Brewing.
“Before we were open as a brewery, we would have parties in the garage where community members would come and enjoy our beer. That’s actually how we met Matt (Abra Kadabra’s CEO) and some of the Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative members,” Josh shared.
Right now, Back Channel Brewing is led by Josh and Melissa, along with two of their co-owners, Matt Olson and Marc Makarem. Josh focuses on Events and Marketing, while Melissa focuses on Retail and Experience.
Since 2015, Back Channel Brewing has been sponsoring and hosting several events to gain momentum and establish its presence in our community.
Backchanneling Iconic Minnesotan Figures: Crafting Beverages With a Story
Their location is part of what turned their “Brewage” into Back Channel Brewing. Yes, they are located on a “back channel” of Lake Minnetonka, but “backchanneling” is also a secondary, or secretive, way to pass information around. Josh and Melissa shared that to make their products more enjoyable and to commit to their mission of providing a one-of-a-kind experience for their customers, they utlize the concept of naming their beverages after iconic Minnesotan figures, or people with significant ties to the state. They’re essentially “backchanneling” the identity of famous Minnesotans through their products.
The naming concept gives each beverage an identity and unique marketing opportunity. It also also acts as a hidden game of trivia. To discover the identity of the beverage, they give you a clue in the name itself, the beer board listed on the tap wall, and the initial social media post.
Some examples include:
- Ten Letter Word: Named after the hip-hop group Atmosphere.
- Justice Page: Honoring Alan Page, the former Minnesota Viking, NFL Hall of Famer, and Supreme Court Justice.
- Iron Ranger: A tribute to Bob Dylan, who hails from Minnesota’s Iron Range.
- The Lake Maker: Inspired by the legendary Paul Bunyan, who, as folklore suggests, created Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.
All of this, out of the many facets that Back Channel taps into, makes the experience unforgettable. In one way or another, a different person comes into the taproom and discovers that one of their favorite icons or events is named after a beer.
The variety makes it more interesting and inclusive for anyone who walks in.
Creating a Fine Selection of Beverages For Everyone
Back Channel Brewing is known for its high-quality craft beer, made in small batches using an intricate process and high quality ingredients.
They brew across the board, with a special emphasis on Lagers, IPAs, and seasonal brews.
“We have a very diverse selection of offerings. I think that is what also makes Back Channel special. We may be known for creating wonderful craft beer, but we also have a vast selection of non-alcoholic offerings.” Melissa shared.
Expanding Beyond Beer
Back Channel Brewing is always on a mission to create better experiences for different people. One of these is to evolve into more than just beer and be known for craft beverages in general.
They want to create experiences for people who just want to unwind after a long day at work and drink something other than beer—to be specific, people who enjoy non-alcoholic drinks.
That’s why Back Channel has created a roster of different beverages to cater to different types of beverage drinkers, such as hop water, sparkling water, CBD & THC seltzers, kombucha, Yerba Mate teas, and craft sodas.
Fostering Inclusivity
Besides creating beverages for everyone, Back Channel Brewing also taps into events by providing many wellness activities.
Last year, they hosted a wellness festival called “Spring Park Awakening” to capture an audience that might not see a brewery as a place to hang out.
Josh shared that it’s their way of breaking down an invisible barrier that prevents people from coming to a brewery who think it’s just where you go and drink. They divert that misconception and show them that it’s a space to gather.
Furthermore, Josh shared that Back Channel is taking a huge step in breaking down barriers by hosting the first-ever Lake Minnetonka Pride Festival in June to support the LGBTQIA+ community.
Tapping Local Businesses For Community Collaboration
Back Channel is all about the experience. To ensure that the experience is as seamless as possible, they’ve followed the advice of focusing on crafting beers and fine-tuning them batch by batch.
It’s not a destination without food to accompany beer or beverage. What Back Channel did was they built relationships with different local businesses for food.
Instead of running an in-house kitchen, Back Channel partners with food trucks and suppliers. “We got some advice early on — do what you do and do it well,” Melissa explained. “For us, that was making beer and curating the experience. Food wasn’t our expertise, so we formed amazing relationships with food trucks.”
“Our community is small, so I think people appreciate having new flavors and varieties of food.”
How Event Marketing Plays a Crucial Role in Back Channel’s Growth
To build a community, there should be many fun and interesting events to engage with. Event Marketing might be too technical for a business such as Back Channel Brewing, which has grown organically and tapped into its local community to grow its business.
However, Back Channel has hosted many events to make its brand known in the community.
“When we’re able to have our patio in full swing, we turn into a different operation in the summertime,” Josh said.
Like their interesting and conversation-starter names of beers, Back Channel creates events that tap into the different common interests of the community. Here are some of the notable recurring events that Back Channel is currently hosting/sponsoring:
- Hot Sauce Festival: Local hot sauce vendors untie for a fiery celebration for spice enthusiasts (5/3/25)
- 5K: In collaboration with the MN Brewery Running Series with proceeds benefitting LIVIN Foundation + Live Music (5/4/25)
- Fast and the Beerious: A European luxury car showcase (6/20/25)
- Sports viewing on the Jumbotron: Enjoy major games on a giant screen with the lake as a backdrop. In the fall, they will be hosting the Ultimate Vikings Gameday Experience!
Moreover, Back Channel Brewing is proud of its roster of events and how it promotes community building and inclusivity.
Back Channel has been consistently involved with local brewfest, Meet Your Maker at the Spirit of the Lakes Festival, which is held annually in July in Mound, Minnesota. The founders are excited about the being the festival’s official beverage partner this coming summer!
Giving Back to the Community
Among the numerous activities at Back Channel Brewing, they are deeply committed to supporting and giving back to the community.
Back Channel is committed to making a positive impact through charitable events.
“We partner with nonprofits and charities that we have personal connections with or that benefit families in our community,” Melissa said.
Some of their recent and upcoming events include fundraisers for glioblastoma brain cancer research, mental health organizations, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Wrapping It Up
From its humble beginnings in a garage to becoming a cherished lakeside destination, Back Channel Brewing is one true example of how to turn passion into building a community that fosters diversity and inclusivity.
Whether you’re stopping by for a signature brew, enjoying a lakeside view, or participating in one of their vibrant events, Back Channel offers a welcoming space.
Abra Kadabra is proud of being tightly knit to Back Channel Brewing, one of the local businesses we support and partner with. Last year, we collaborated with them to create a beverage called “Wizard Water,” a refreshing hop water enjoyed by all.
This article is part of our Vendor Spotlight series, where we feature businesses that champion customer experience and go beyond to provide the best service. Stay tuned for more.
To learn more about Back Channel Brewing Co., visit their website.
We want to thank Josh & Melissa Leddy for sharing their time, knowledge, and expertise, which made this article possible.
Call us at 763 – 363 – 4375 or schedule an appointment if you have any pest and wildlife-related concerns.
Visit Back Channel Brewing Co.’s taproom on Lake Minnetonka at 4787 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN and Get a Free Home Inspection for Pests and Wildlife from Abra Kadabra. Just look for Melissa or Josh and ask for the unique code.
